Continuous-cigarette machine



(No Modl.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. W. COFFEE. CONTINUOUS CIGARETTE MACHINE.

Patented Aug 13, 1895.

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R. W. COFFEE. CONTINUOUS GIGARETTE MACHINE.

No. 544,611. Patented Aug. 13, 1895.

T T I ll WITNEE5EE (No Model) I 7 SheetsSheet 34 R. W. COFFEE. a j CONTINUOUS CIGARETTE MACHINE.

No. 544,611. Patented Aug. 13,1895.

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(No Model.)

, R. W... COFFEE. CONTINUOUS CIGARETTE MACHINE.

No. 544,611. Patented Aug. 13, 1895.

- INVE'NT EH:-

WITNESSES (No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 5.

R- WI CONTINUOUS CIGARETTE MACHINE.

Patented Aug. 13,1895.

-w1 TNEEEEE- (No Model.) 7 SheetsShet 6.

R. w. COPPER CONTINUOUS" CIGARETTE MACHINE.

No. 544,611. Patented Aug. 13, 1895.

WITNEIE1E1EE w gi (No Model.) 7 7 Sheets-Sheet 7.

' R. W. COFFEE. CONTINUOUS CIGARETTE MACHINE.

No. 544,611. Patented Aug. 1.3, 1895.

being finally out into merchantable cigarettes;

UNrTED rates ROBERT W. COFFEE, OF BEDFORD CITY, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE 'BOHLS CIGARETTE MACHINE COMPANY, OF VIRGINIA.

CONTlNUOUS-CIGARETTE MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 544,611, dated August 13, 1 895.

Application filed November 5, 1894.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT W. COFFEE, of Bedford City, in the county of Bedford and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Continuous-Cigarette Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to improvements upon that class of machines known as continuous -that is to say, to which the properly-prepared tobacco is fed to mechanism adapted to form a filler-rod therefrom, which rod is thereafter wrapped with paper, the edges of which are subsequently united by paste, the continuous cigarette thus formed and this invention has. reference more particularly to improvements upon Letters Patent No. 445,036, granted January 20, 1891, to Henry Bohls, and has for its object to add to the efliciency and durability of the machine therein described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a plan showing the feeding end of the machine. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the delivery end of the machine. The remaining figures are upon an enlarged scale. Fig. 4 is an elevation, partly in longitudinal section, showing the filler-rod-forming mechanism. Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section of the same on the line at a; of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a plan of the same. Fig. 7 is an elevation, partly in longitudinal section, at or near the delivery end of the machine. Fig. 8 is a top view of a part of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is an end view of a part of Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is a view showing the delivery end of the machine and the cutting mechanism. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of one of the dies. Fig. 12 is an end view of the same.

Similar figures and letters of reference indicate similar parts in the respective figures.

The frame of the machine is shown by 1, 2, and 3. All the working parts are driven from the principal shaft 4, which receives motion from any suitable shaft or motor through the medium of belts and pulleys.

7 is a carrier-belt which passes around rollers S and 9, the former being suitably supported on the frame of the machine just betance left between the two belts.

yond the end of the table 10, and so arranged as to bring the upper half of the belt onto said table. 11 is the shaft of the roller 8, which shaft rests in slots formed in the projection 12 and isattached to a yoke 13. A screw 14 passes through a threaded boss 15 of the projection 12, and is provided with a squared end 16 to receive a wrench, so that by turning the 'screw the tension upon the carrier-belt 7 may be adjusted. The roller 9 is driven through the medium of bevel-gears 17 and 18, Fig. 2, which derive their movement from the main shaft 4, the shaft of the gearwheel 18 having thereon a spur-gear which drives a smaller gear-wheel mounted upon the shaft on which the roller 9 is placed.

(See Fig. 1.) As the belt 7 moves onward it carries the tobacco from the feeding devices (not shown) to the filler-rod-forming mechanism. (Seen more particularly in Figs. 4, 5,

' and 6.)

In Patent No. 445,036 the filler-rod is formed by the action of linked endless chains moving in'a horizontal plane between alower tobaccocarrying belt and an upper-presser belt, the

chains preferably having grooves formed in their operative edges to give cylindrical, or approximately cylindrical, shape to the filler rod.

In the present invention the filler-rod-forming devices, while retaining the lower carrierbelt and the upper presser-belt, include as a substitute for the side-linked chains of Patent No. 445,036 a novel element, the formation and arrangement of which will be hereinafter described.

The top or presser belt 27 passes around rollers 28 and 29, the former of which is adjustable, so as to vary the tension of the belt, its bearing 30 being controlled by a screw 31, having a nut in a boss 32, forminga stationary part of the machine. The presser-belt-27 is arranged to run in a horizontal plane, so as to bring its operative portion parallel with the carrier-belt 7,there being a certain dis- The top or presser belt 27 is driven indirectly from the main shaft 4, through the medium of the gearwheel 31 on the shaft of the roller 9, which engages with the gear-wheel 32 on the shaft 33", which latter is supported in suitable bearthe slots 35 is such that at the point when the 3 ings. The arrangements of these belts is shown on enlarged scale in Figs. 4 and 5. An idler 36 rests upon the top of the under turn of the endless presser-belt 27, so as to maintain its parallelism with the carrier-belt 7, as is clearly shown in Fig. 4.

In lieu of the side-linked chains or other devices as heretofore used for giving lateral compression to the filler-rod, the present invention comprises two sets of separated steel dies 33, one set being arranged at each side of the machine. ()ne of said dies is shown in perspective in Fig. 11, an end view being given in Fig. 12. The outer end of each die 33 is grooved, as seen at 43 in Fig. 11, so as to give the required formation to the filler-rod, and is provided with a pin 34, which rests in an irregular groove 35, formed in the frame in the machine. The construction is such that a number of said dies of one set shall abut closely together, as seen in.Fig. 6, the several pins 34 of said dies resting in one of the grooves 35, so as in the movement of the serics of dies forming a set, as hereinafter described, to be guided thereby. The inner end of each die 33 is tapered, as shown at 36, so as to permit a disconnected but continuous series of said dies to move around the curved ends of its guiding-slot 35, it being necessary that in so doing a portion of the lateral surfaces of said dies shall be separated. While the series of dies constituting a set turn around the curved ends of the slot, the surfaces of the tapered portions of the adjacent dies come together, so as to support and maintain the dies in their proper positions, as will be readily understood from Fig. 6. 33 is provided upon its upper surface with teeth 37, the number here employed being three, as seen in Figs. 11 and 12. It will be observed that as a series of the said dies 33 stand in a right line, as shown in Fig. 6, they together form a toothed rack capable of being operated upon by a pinion in a manner common to the action of racks and pinions. The necessary traveling movementgiven to the two endless sets of dies is etfected from the main shaft 4 through the medium of gearwheels, as will now be described. The shaft of the roller 9, which is driven from the main shaft 4, as before described, has a pinion 31", which is in engagement with a gear 32" on the shaft 33". This shaft carries the gears 3t" and 35", which drive the similar gears 36" and 37", through the medium of the idle-gears 38" and 39". The shafts 4.0" and 41" of the idle gears 33" and 39" have fastened to them-gears 42" and 43".

The two sets of dies 33 form a pair of endless movable toothed compressors, which may be designated by A A. As shown more particularly in Figs. 5 and 6, the compressor A is driven by the gears 37" 4.3", and that A by the gears 36" and 42". The arrangement of opposite sets of dies 33 are to act upon or com- 3 press the fillerrod the operative parts of the Each die two sets are brought in contact, so as to cause a bore of the size of the filler-rod to be formed; and the slots 35 are further arranged so that the approach to the compressing-point of the opposite sets of dies-2'. e., the compressors A Aconstitutes an inclined way, substantially such as is formed by the pair of endless chains 71 in Patent No.4.45,036. The direction of movement of the series of dies constituting the compressors A A is shown by the arrows in Fig. 6, and the arrangement of the gears 37", 43", 36", and 42", respectively, is such as to equally distribute the strain upon the toothed dies 33, forming the compressors, as will be readily understood from Fig. 6. Thus the wide gear-wheel 37", engaging the teeth of the series of dies (or compressor A) directly under it, tends to force them along in the direction of the movement of the tobacco, while the gear 43", revolving in the opposite direction, assists the return movement of the series of dies constituting said compressor A, the two gears 37" and 43" giving a regular and steady movement thereto. The action of the gears 36" and 42" upon the opposite set of dies 33, constituting the compressor A, is the same as that just described. It will be understood that the gears engaging the teeth of the dies pass for that purpose through slots in the framework, as

shown in Fig. 5..- The objectin making the gears 37" and 36" wider than the gear-wheels with which they engage is obvious, one half of the width of the teeth of said gears 37" and 36" being adapted to engage the teeth 37 of the dies, while the other half engages with the idle-gear, as is seen in Fig. 6. The arrangement of the continuous series of dies 33 in each compressor is such that each die is independent of all others entering into its series, and the absence of connecting-pins, such as belong in a linked chain, obviates any wear and tear incident to the use of individual united links. Each die 33, restinginits slot 35, maintains its position and assists in maintaining that of all the dies entering into the compressor formed thereby, the compressor being guided in an even, steady, and regular manner throughout the said slot 35, while the contact of the dies at their sides also tends to give them greater steadiness and rigidity as a series.

In Fig. 4. the carrier-belt 7 and the upper or presser belt 27 are shown resting in horizontal planes immediately under and above the inner and co-operating portions of the compressors A A in the manner described in Patent No. 445,036 with respect to the side endless chains 71, so that the action in the present invention of the compressors A A and belts 7 and 27 is to form and properly compress the filler-rod in course of formation and at the same time move it forward to the wrapping and pasting devices in the mode substantially as described in said patent.

The strip of paper constituting the wrapper of the filler-rod is represented by 44., and is IIO mounted upon a reel having a bearing 45 bolted under the frame of the machine. A mouthpiece 46 is set upon the frame in advance of the filler-forming mechanism, and receives the rod and the paper wrapper and partially curves the wrapper around the fillerrod. As the filler-rod and wrapper emerge from the mouthpiece one edge of the strip of paper is brought in contact with the pasting device, after which the edges of the paper are entirely folded over and pasted together. The continuous cigarette is now carried to the delivery devices, which consist of the lower endless delivery-be1t47 and the top endless presser and delivery-belt 48, which are arranged to run parallel to each other, and to carry the continuous cigarette between them to the cutting mechanism. The lower delivery-belt 47 is kept at the required tension by means of an idler 49, mounted upon swinging forked supports 50, Figs. 7 and 9, hinged at 51 to the frame of the machine and kept elevated by means of a spring 52, which rests between a bar 53 secured to the frame and the web 54, forming a part of the forked support 50, as seen in Fig. 7.

The tension ofthe upper endless top presserbelt is maintained by means of a similar device, (seen in Figs. 7 and 8,) consisting of an idler 54, held by a forked support 55, having a bearing in standards 56, mounted upon the frame of the machine, the spring 57 held between the web 58 of said support and the bearing 59 assisting the gravity of the idler 54 to give the required tension to the belt.

The continuous cigarette having emerged from the delivery-belts 47 and 48 is carried to a cutting mechanism, (shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 10,) which may be briefly described as consisting of a circular knife 60, placed at the end of an extensible arm 61 revolving on the shaft 62. The arm 61 is provided with a counterweight 63 to prevent vibration in its rotation. The arm 61 is made extensible for the purpose of lengthening or shortening it to suit the diameter of the knife used. The knife-arm shaft is suitably geared to the main shaft 4 to revolve with a speed determined by the length of cigarette to be cut. The

knife is rotated independently of the ro-' In my present invention I make no claim to the wrapping, pasting, delivery, and cutting devices, except as in combination with parts of the machine which specifically enter into my invention, the said wrapping, delivery, pasting, and cutting mechanisms being substantially as found in the said patent to Henry Bohls, No. 445,036, orin theapplication of said Bohls, Serial No. 398,530, filed July 6, 1891.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. In a continuous cigarette machine, the combination of an endless carrier belt, a top or presser endless belt above the carrier belt, two'sets of disconnected toothed dies arranged between the said two belts, each set forming an endless toothed compressor, frames in which said endless toothed compressors are adapted to travel, and gearing for giving the said endless carrier belt, top presser belt, and endless toothed traveling compressors the desired motion, speed and uniformity of action, substantially as set forth.

2. In a continuous cigarette machine, a framehaving slots, and two sets of disconnected toothed dies, each set being adapted to move in one of said slots (the two sets forming together a pair of endless traveling compressors), combined with gear wheels engaging and causing the travel of said toothed compressors, substantially as set forth.

3. In a continuous cigarette machine, a frame having slots, and two sets of disconnected toothed dies, each die having an inner tapered formation, as described, and a pin adapted to move in one of the slots of the frame (the said sets forming together a pair of endless traveling compressors), combined with gear wheels engaging and causing the travel of said toothed compressors, substantially as set forth.

4. In' a continuous cigarette machine, a frame having slots, and two sets of discon nected dies each die having an inner tapered formation, as described, and a pin adapted to move in one of said slots (said two sets forming together a pair of endless toothed traveling compressors), combined with gearing engaging and causing the travel of said toothed compressors, and with a lower endless carrier belt and a top or presser belt, said endless toothed compressors being arranged between said belts, substantially as set forth.

5. In a continuous cigarette machine, a filler rod forming mechanism consisting of two endless compressors composed of two sets of toothed independent and detached shaping dies, said sets being arranged to confront each other so as to form a shaping channel, combined with gear wheels for-engagin g with and giving movement to said endless compressors, a slotted frame in which said sets of shaping dies are adapted to run, and an endless carrier belt and a top or presser endless belt, the said endless compressors being arranged be tween said belts, substantially as set forth.

6. In a continuous cigarette machine, the combination of an endless carrier belt, a top or presser endless belt above the carrier belt, two sets of independent toothed dies arranged between said belts, each set forming an endless toothed compressor, wrapping, pasting, delivering and cutting devices, and gearing for engaging with said endless toothed com pressors and for operating and imparting uniform movement to the said several mechanisms and timing the cutter in respect to the forward movement of the continuous 5 cigarette, substantially as set forth.

7. A carrier or former consisting of a series of disconnected blocks, each with a groove in its face and supported to travel in a continuous path, and one or more driving Wheels en- 10 gaging one or more of the blocks, the blocks in advance of those directly engaged by said wheels being pushed forward by the succeeding blocks, substantially as described.

8. The combination of a series of discon- In testimony whereof I hereto set my hand and seal.

ROBERT W. GOFFEE. [L. s] Witnesses:

WILLIAM J. PAYNE, FRED. S. MYERS. 

